The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 59

THE PROVINCE -Wednesday, September 18,2002 A59 MOTORSPORT I 1 I HI in jiii 1 1 w. mn mi 11 irojunmni 1 1 vHjT I 1 Kfzijyi-0'-' 'ifi Vj iiimrtmftW imfii. mirftJ.iKKiirfti,wrtfl.wnrf. n.An.tom imm -i. CP Dario Franchitti leads Paul Tracy (second) and Tony Kanaan in the order of finish at the Molson Indy Vancouver last July.

Two of the three drivers are leaving CART. SluMWfi By Gordon Mclntyre Sports Reporter i w- ri But the down-to-earth Franchitti's departure left fans, at least those who post notes on Internet motorsport sites, feeling betrayed. Most accuse Franchitti of being mercenary. "I've read about money being the issue, but it's not about money," Franchitti said. "The money involved to stay in CART and to go to the IRL was almost identical." Franchitti had talked to NewmanHaas about taking over Christian Fittipaldi's ride for 2003.

Fit-tipaldi, nephew of Emerson, is taking his famous surname to NASCAR. Franchitti wouldn't reveal the worth or length of his deal with AndrettiGreen, but Honda's deep pockets mean he'll probably get about $3 million US next season. Racing in the IRL will also mean Franchitti can spend more time at his Tennessee home with his actress wife. They married last winter at a Scottish castle. Andretti began questioning CART's fiitur'e Jast winter, v' 9 1 "Things change, life changes," he said Tuesday.

"I really enjoyed CART, but we have to go where we feel the momentum is in auto racing. Looking at what the IRL is doing we feel that's where our future is, at least in the short term." Franchitti said he still has confidence in CART's future. "CART management is made up of the best guys I've ever seen on the job since I've been there." Six current teams, including Montreal-based Player'sForsythe, have committed to CART in 2003. TargetGanassi will join Andretti, Mo Nunn Racing and Marl-boroPenske as IRL-only teams. CART shrugged off losing the team and drivers.

The series will still field at least 18 cars next year, Adam Saal, vice-president of communications, said. "Andretti's move comes down to not a preference in a racing series, but rather a decision fuelled by their business partners," Saal said. 2 he'd keep a car or two in CART. Franchitti, who has four wins and four poles in Canada, including two of each in Vancouver, said it's venues such as Vancouver he'll miss most when he joins the ovals-only IRL, which races strictly in the U.S. The 29-year-old Scot said he'll return to Vancouver to watch next year's Indy if the IRL isn't on then.

At the Vancouver Indy on July 28, which he won, Franchitti said he wanted to stay in CART. But by the Montreal Indy, Aug. 25, the deal with Andretti was done. "It was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make," a subdued Franchitti said from Scotland, where he's taking a breather before the next race, Sept. 29 at Miami.

"I have such a great relationship with the team and Honda, but at the same time I love CART. It'll be difficult not to be racing in Vancouver and the other great places CART goes." Andretti has the reputation of an aloof prima donna and many sad tpssee iiim goa CART will need the compound eye of a housefly if it's to absorb any more public-relations shiners. On Tuesday, the sanctioning body of the Molson Indy Vancouver officially lost its winningest driver, Michael Andretti, and one of its most likable pilots, Dario Franchitti, not to mention the glamour of Franchitti's wife and frequent trackside presence, Ashley Judd. Along with Tony Kanaan, the drivers are jumping ship to the Indy Racing League in just the latest tilt of the scales in favour of the IRL. Andretti, CART's biggest name among drivers, unveiled one of the worst-kept secrets in motor-sport, saying he'll enter a three-car team in the IRL next season.

But he mildly surprised some people by naming Franchitti and Kanaan as his other two drivers. Ever since he bought Team Green in July it's been a slam-dunk that Andrettiwho lusts after an Susie Wall The Province CART loses the glamour of Ashley Judd and Dario Franchitti, seen attending the Greg Moore Fundraiser in Vancouver last July. Indy 500 win after 19 fruitless tries would follow his engine supplier Honda to the IRL in 2003. What wasn't known was how many cars. tieldxwiwhejher.